Design Founder Fellowship

Design Founder Fellowship is an 8-week program ​designed specifically to help founders with creative ​backgrounds succeed in building their startups.

Applications invited till Sept. 30, 2024

About the fellowship

Design Founder Fellowship, or DFF for short, is an 8-week ​program that supports designers with training in critical ​business skills to launch impactful solutions.

We find the brightest, boldest designers with keen insights ​on important problems. Then we give them all of the best ​tools to succeed.

Who is this for?

Design Venture Lab is for digital designers (UX, UI, graphic, ​communication) and other design disciplines (industrial ​design, fashion, architecture, arts) who want to develop ​business skills and launch their own ventures.

Why designers?

Designers have superpowers when it comes to empathy, ​research, and creative problem solving. DFF provides ​support to actualise promising solutions and help reach ​intended audiences.

• Tailored business education for the ​creative industry
• Hands-on workshops to develop ​entrepreneurial skills
• Mentorship from successful design ​entrepreneurs
• Networking opportunities within the ​creative business ecosystem
• Flexible online delivery to fit your ​schedule

Real impact needs ​you to go beyond ​the drawing board

We get it, it’s not easy. Especially the parts that are ​not taught in design school: financial modelling, ​legal structures, logistics, marketing and more. The ​fellowship aims to bridge those gaps with tried-and-​tested knowledge from the business world.

We coach design entrepreneurs to launch and grow ​their business ideas, and provide support every step ​of the way.

Learning Modules

Financial Modelling

Everything you need to know about money to run a business ​- financial planning, business model design, fundraising and ​management.

Legal Structures

Design the right legal entity to operate under, to optimise ​for current and future growth. Understand legalities of ​partnerships, directorships, board members, shareholders, ​liabilities, rights and protections for businesses.

Marketing and distribution

Positioning, storytelling and building community around your ​business. Great products x brilliant distribution = successful ​business

Building a product business

Develop a production process, mobilise a team, manage ​your supply chain, design operations to scale efficiently. ​Learn to build whatever your business needs, with scrappy ​creativity.

On this fellowship,

you have one job: launch.

Our job is to help you plan, validate, iterate, network, ​connect, form partnerships, close sales, and grow your ​business.

Is this possible in 8 weeks?

Most ideas may seem too complex for an 8-week launch ​plan. We believe there are many creative ways to go to ​market for different types of validation goals. A short ​production cycle is an art in itself. You get to learn from ​mentors who have cracked the code. Learn to break any goal ​down into the simplest first steps, and get scrappy about ​progress without waiting for wish list resources.

Tell us what you’re building

Program Information

• Duration: 8 weeks
  
• Dates: Oct. 7 to Nov. 29, 2024
  
• Time Commitment: 4 hours per week
  
• Delivery: Online
  
• Program fee: $1,200. Thanks to our ​sponsors, we are able to offer full ​scholarships to all participants.
• The program will culminate in a ​demo-day to connect with ​prospective investors, partners and ​customers.
• Applications for the current cohort are ​accepted till Sept. 30, 2024. Apply ​here.
  

Ways to stay in touch

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